Manuel Rodriguez guilty of coffee vending machine scam

Manuel Rodriguez, 48, was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison, three years probation and $1.1 million in restitution for committing wire fraud through a coffee-vending machine business opportunity scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer.

The victims said they lost between $15,000 and $192,000 investing in a business that offered to provide, place and maintain coffee machines in various high-traffic locations.

They testified that Rodriguez told them their machines would sell enough coffee to recoup their investment in 12-18 months. But the machines were placed in poor locations which generated little or no sales, and some victims testified they received no machines at all, prosecutors said.